A Boulder filmmaker is pushing back against a city policy that requires professional photographers to apply for a permit when shooting at city parks and facilities.

On Wednesday evening, SMK Media founder Scott Klumb and friend Sean Wakefield set up filmmaking equipment on the northwest side of Valmont Bike Park when they were asked to leave by city officials because they didn't have a permit.

Klumb, who has lived in Boulder for two years, said he planned to film Wakefield on his dirt bike when park officials approached them.

Valmont City Park supervisor for the city Callie Hayden and the 2014 cyclocross nationals project manager Mike Eubank said they told Klumb about the permit requirement and asked if they could reschedule the shoot because the park was full of people. Eubank said they told him he could continue shooting with his camera alone, as long as he didn't set up the two large tripods and other equipment he brought with him.

Klumb left on his own accord shortly after talking with Eubank, but the incident caused an outcry on the Valmont Bike Park's Facebook page on Thursday.

Boulder's official film policy states that "commercial and professional photography and videography at all city parks and recreation facilities requires an approved permit prior to shooting. Please allow at least 14 days prior to proposed shoot date for processing."

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Mostly, the free, four-page permit applications are a "heads up," Hayden said, so that there are no surprises for cyclists, spectators, maintenance crews or filmmakers. The application allows the city to balance use in the park, Hayden said.

She said the policy and permit application are not new and have been available on the city's website for as long as she could remember.

Hayden said that receiving a permit also ensures a good experience for the filmmaker. She and city maintenance crews often close trails, run sprinklers, bring in dirt for trail work -- all things which could be disruptive to a film shoot.

After receiving an application, Hayden said she's able to work with the film crew to find the most optimal time for them to begin shooting. If a certain trail is closed, Hayden can talk with filmmakers about coming another day, she said.

On Wednesday, Hayden said there were five permitted activities going on at the park, including another film shoot, a small bike race series, a kids' program and a private party.

"We're trying to balance all the use and make experiences positive for everyone," Eubank said. "We're doing our best to make sure that it's a safe and secure environment for everyone."

A note posted on the Valmont Bike Park's Facebook page Thursday morning attempted to clarify that personal filming with Go-Pro cameras and basic handheld cameras is permitted, while filming with ground equipment requires a permit. Hayden acknowledged that it's hard to define "professional" or "commercial" photography in an age where everyone has access to a camera and a computer.

Hayden ground equipment can be dangerous for riders who might not see it. For private parties, having an unexpected film crew with loads of equipment nearby can be disruptive.

Klumb said he doesn't agree that a tripod is dangerous to riders.

"I understand a giant crane system or dollies getting in the way, but a basic tripod is pretty small," he said. "A tripod is not dangerous at all. I stand in places where I don't get hit. I can change out lenses to zoom in as far as I want."

Klumb added that getting a permit weeks in advance can be tricky because often filming and riding depends on the weather.

Another local filmmaker, James Edwards, who owns JME Productions, said he understands both points of view. He worked for 20 years in Washington, D.C., and said he needed a permit to film anywhere in the city. Police asked to see a permit every time he was out shooting.

In comparison, the free, four-page permit application for Boulder "is relaxed," he said.

"This guards against people who are doing larger and more elaborate productions from being able to roll into Valmont with a bunch of equipment," he said, "and start shooting without any vetting whether they're properly prepared or qualified."

On the other hand, he said, the city applying the policy "with a bludgeon" doesn't make sense. Photographers with small tripods are being "caught in the net" of the policy when they aren't causing much harm, he said.

"I understand the reason for the policy, but I think it should be applied judiciously," Edwards said. "Valmont is a place people go to have fun. With the advent of social media, a lot of what goes into that fun is being able to share with other people what you've done with your day. That's a normal part of human activity and it need not be regulated unnecessarily."

City officials said they understand there are gray areas under the film permit policy, adding that they aren't trying to "shut anyone down," rather they hope to ensure all users of the park are safe and having a good time.

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